Comments on The Book Design Review: Asterios Polyp

@anonymous Spoilsport, but fair. Perhaps a topic f...

2009-09-30T10:56:13.483-05:00

@anonymous Spoilsport, but fair. Perhaps a topic for another blog post...

I hate to be a spoilsport, but – questions of onli...

2009-09-29T20:58:42.465-05:00

I hate to be a spoilsport, but – questions of online representation aside – there's a real, serious lack of practicality in things like the Asterios Polyp jacket. Booksellers hate diecut jackets and bellybands: they get shelfworn overnight and end up getting returned. What could be worse than a beautiful book that gets sent back to the warehouse in tatters? Hyper-elaborate, multi-layer jackets with diecuts over two-color stamped cases like the Chabon are ridiculously expensive, and they don't necessarily motivate buyers in a meaningful way. Yes, they're beautiful: that's inarguable. I'll even admit to a twinge of jealousy that I don't get to do anything nearly so intricate, but I (for one) am answerable to my firm's bottom line, and things like Jordan Crane's design are just too extravagant for real publishers who need to turn at least a meager profit. I'd be more impressed to see simpler wrappers that still catch the eye and heart.

@John I had no idea! Very cool.

2009-09-28T13:30:14.206-05:00

@John I had no idea! Very cool.

Amazon allows publishers to submit either primary ...

2009-09-28T10:32:26.280-05:00

Amazon allows publishers to submit either primary or additional images as 3D views, as long as they are on a white background; see here, here or here, for example.

As our publisher's sales rep to Amazon, I generally recommend the creation of a 3D image or three-quarter photograph, especially on exceptionally thick books (shows the buyer they're getting a big chunky book for the money) and box sets. Showing off exceptional design is another wonderful reason to do so, in the primary image or in extra images.

@seth @oxen those both look rad @shorty I'm glad ...

2009-09-28T09:33:07.610-05:00

@seth @oxen those both look rad

@shorty I'm glad folks like the idea of a "blogger's kit" -- I think I might make that the next guest post on here

The big one for me is the secret Chris Ware artwor...

2009-09-27T12:18:06.453-05:00

The big one for me is the secret Chris Ware artwork on the jacket of the hardcover edition of Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

You can kind of see it here:

http://www.acmenoveltyarchive.org/gallery/index.php?dir=030

I love that Chip Kidd and Chris Ware put together a book design that you can only appreciate to its fullest in person!

I'm not sure who designed it, but the fantastic ja...

2009-09-27T08:03:08.790-05:00

I'm not sure who designed it, but the fantastic jacket for A Crack in the Edge of the World by Simon Winchester--an awe-inspiring unfolding thing that was far better than the book it contained.

You're right, that's a good idea. I'm going to pas...

2009-09-26T21:22:47.517-05:00

You're right, that's a good idea. I'm going to pass it along to some friends in marketing at a couple of publishing houses.

With all the books blogs can sell these days, you'...

2009-09-26T18:45:29.720-05:00

With all the books blogs can sell these days, you'd think publishers would provide an open "blogger's kit" (much like a press kit) with high-resolution images, spreads, etc, and *encourage* folks to spread them around...

I've come to rely more on publisher sites and blog...

2009-09-26T16:03:35.037-05:00

I've come to rely more on publisher sites and blogs when sourcing images for the BDR; designers' sites too, and portfolios on sites like design:related. But very often it does come down to picking the image that's least bad. I either need a budget or more review copies.